Combined brush and soap holder



Aug. 28, 1956 Filed June 23, 1953 L. GOTTFRIED COMBINED BRUSH AND SOAP HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet l L. GOTTFRIED COMBINED BRUSH AND SOAP HOLDER Aug. 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23. 1953 INVENTOR law; arrpelsa COMBINED BRUSH AND SOAP HOLDER Louis Gottfried, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Jacob Berger, New York, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1953, Serial No. 363,426

9 Claims. (Cl. 15--122) The present invention relates to brushes in general and to a brush having associated therewith a cake of solid soap in such manner that the soap and brush form a substantially unitary wash unit in particular.

Combined brush and soap holders have been proposed before which, however, required a comparatively complicated structure for associating the soap to the brush, which structure was expensive in its manufacture and prohibitive for general use.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a brush having a cake of solid soap associated therewith which will be relatively simple to manufacture and which has a very low production cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined brush and soap holder which has improved means for holding the soap by merely sliding the soap into the base of the brush.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bathing brush of such character as to preclude any possibility of temporary misplacement or loss of the soap While bathing.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a combined brush and soap holder of such character that the soaping and scrubbing of the individual may be accomplished in a single operation.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a combined brush and soap holder in which the base holding the bristles is equipped with a cross-wise disposed recess one or both side walls of which are equipped with a single or plurality of projections which bite into the side faces of the soap, which projections retain the soap in the said recess provided in the base of the brush. It is to be understood, however, that the recess may as well be arranged lengthwise.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a combined brush and soap holder in which the base holding the bristles is equipped with a cross-wise disposed recess, one or both side walls of which are equipped with a single or plurality of projections, the said projections being disposed either at the same level or at different levels of the side wall or walls of the recess, which projections retain the soap in the recess provided in the base of the brush.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a combined brush and soap holder in which the base holding the bristles is equipped with a cross-wise disposed recess, one or both side walls of which are equipped with a single or a plurality of'pins, the latter forming projections which bite into the side faces of the soap, which pins retain the soap in the recess provided in the base of the brush, whereby at least one or all of the pins may be spring biased.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

nited States Patent 07 Figure 1 is a perspective top view of the combined brush and soap holder;

Fig. 2 is a section along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective top view of a second embodiment of the combined brush and soap holder;

Fig. 4 is a section along the lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modification of the combined brush and soap holder shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are end elevations of a third embodiment of the combined brush and soap holder showing the soap when inserted into the holder before use and in a readjusted position after use, respectively;

Figs. 8 and 9 are end elevations of a fourth embodiment of the combined brush and soap holder showing the soap inserted into the holder before use and in readjusted position after use, respectively; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a fifth embodiment of the combined brush and soap holder.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figures l and 2, the combined brush and soap holder comprises the brush body or back 1 from a portion of the top face 2 of which extend bristles 3.

The brush body or back 1 has on its top face 2 a recess 4 disposed adjacent the bristles 3 and extending crosswise through the brush body 1. The recess 4 is open at least on one side of the brush body 1 but preferably on both sides thereof and is adapted to receive a cake of soap 5. The width of the recess 4 at its base is slightly greater than the width of a cake of soap to be inserted into the recess 4 and the side faces of the recess 4 are equipped with one or more projections, the distance of two projections disposed on the opposite walls of the recess projected on a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to the recess being slightly smaller than the provided width of a cake of soap. It is to be understood that the mentioned projections may consist of pins, bolts, crosswise disposed extensions of regular or irregular shape, or any similar configuration which may bite into the side face or faces of a cake of soap.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the projections which, are adapted to bite into the side walls of the cake of soap are downwardly inclined side walls 6 which form together with the top face of the brush body a sharp edge 7 in such manner that the open distance between the two oppositely disposed sharp edges 7 is slightly smaller than the width of a cake of soap to be inserted into the recess 4. Thus, the recess 4 is formed with dove-tail cross-section and as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the sharp edges 7 of the side walls 6 bite into the cake of soap 5 and retain the latter in a position adjacent the bristles 3.

Referring now again to the drawing and in particular to Figs. 3 and 4 which disclose the second embodiment of the present invention, the combined brush and soap holder comprises again a brush body or back 1 from a part of the top face 2' of which bristles 3 extend outwardly therefrom. The brush body 1 is of a length greater than required for the bristles 3 and is equipped with a recess 4 extending crosswise in the brush body 1 adjacent the bristles 3. The recess 4' is open at least at one side of the brush body 1' but preferably on both sides thereof, so that a cake of soap 5' may be inserted into the recess 4 of the brush body 1' from either side. The side walls 6 of the recess 4' may extend substantially perpendicularly to the top face 2' of the brush body 1' and each of the walls 6 is equipped with one pointed projection 7 which may extend over the entire length of the recess 4 or a plurality of such separate projections 70', as shown in Fig. 5 either aligned on the same level or at different levels may be provided. The width of the recess is slightly larger than the width of a cake of soap to be inserted therein, while the open distance of the pointed projections 7" disposed at the opposite walls of the recess 4 is slightly smaller than the width of the cake of soap to be inserted. In this manner it is possible to slide a cake of soap into the recess 4' from either side of the brush body 1 and the cake of soap 5' rests on the bottom face of the recess 4 and is retained in its position by means of the pointed projection 7- biting into the side faces of the soap 5', to form a unitary Washing unit.

In order to adjust the cake of soap to the level of the outer end of the bristles, a third embodiment may be provided, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the brush body 1 has a raised portion adjacent the portion carrying the bristles 3 and the side walls 6 of the recess 4 may be equipped with projections 7 either in form of a dove-tail cross-section for the recess 4 or by providing other types of projections as pins, bolts or the like in an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. It will be apparent that at first the cake of soap is inserted into the recess 4 in such manner that it engages the bottom of the recess 4. in which position the' outer face of the cake of soap will be substantially flush with the upper ends of the bristles 3 Upon using the soap, its upper level will be lowered and in order to raise the soap again to a level flush with the bristles, the cake of soap. may be removed from the recess and then inserted again at a higher level in such manner that the projections 7 will bite into the side faces of the cake of soap. at a point which is lower than than at its first insertion.

In order to permit of the use of the soap in the brush body even after extensive use thereof and to provide the possibility to raise the position of the cake of soap repeatedly, the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9 as a fourth embodiment, provides a brush body 1 carrying bristles 3 and which is equipped with a recess 4 adapted to receive a cake of soap. The side walls 6 of the recess 4 carry a plurality of projections 7? disposed at different levels thereon. While the drawing shows these projections 7 at twolevels only, it is to be understood that the projections may be provided at more than two levels. Thus Fig. 8 shows a cake of soap inserted into the recess and the projections 7 of both levels biting into the cake of soap. Fig. 9, on the other hand, shows the same cake of soap after slight use. and remounted in a higher position in which merely the projections 7 of the upper level bite into the cake of soap and properly retaining the cake of soap in position at substantially the level of the outer ends of the bristles, 3

It has been indicated before that pins, bolts or the like may be used for the projections. While normal projections will be provided on the opposite walljsofl the recess in the brush body, it is alsov possible to provide such projections on one upwardly directed wal lj ofj the recess, as clearly shown in the embodiment demonstrated in Fig. of the drawing. Thisstructure cornprises a brush body 1 having bristles, 3 and' a, recess 4 which preferably has substantially vertically extend ing side walls 6 A horizontally disposed boring 8 is provided in the brush body 1 which boring 8 terminates in one of the side walls.6 of the recess 44. The boring 8 is. reduced in diameter in its portion towards the outer end of the brush body 1 and receives a pin 7 which carries securedthereto a washer 9 The pin 7 which extends through the boring 8 to the outside of the brush body 1 and'its outer end carries a head 10 which is adapted to exert pressure for axial, movement of the pin 7 through the boring 8 A helical spring 11 is inserted in the wider portion of the boring 8' and one end of the spring ll -bears. against the shoulder formed by the wider portion of, the boring. 8 at the point where the narrower portionthereof; begins; and the other end of the spring ll bears against; the washer 9 The spring 11 is. inserted insuch-,manner; that, it tends to press the preferably pointed end of; the pin 7" into a cake 1 of soap inserted: into therecess.- 442 The pin iii) 7 will penetrate the side wall of the cake of soap and, at the same time, due to the action of the spring 11 presses the other side wall towards the opposite side wall of the recess 4 While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. A brush. comprising a back, having a top face and a bottom face, bristles extending outwardly from a portion of said top. face, said back having: a recess in said top face adjacent said bristle-carrying portion of said top face, the said recess having a bottom wall and two oppositely disposed side walls extending from said bottom wall upwardly to the top face of said back and at least one open end, at least one of the side walls of the saidrecess comprising at least one inwardly extending lateral projection, and a cake of soap having substantially parallel side faces slidablyreceived in said recess, the width of the said recesses being slightly wider than that of said cake of soap to he slid into the said recess and the open space between the said projection and the opposite side wall of said recess being slightly smaller than the width of the said cake of soap, so that upon sliding said cake of soap into the said recess with its top face substantially flush with the top face of said bristles, the said projection bitesinto a side face of the said cake of soap and retains the latter adjustably by means of sliding said cake of soap at the proper level into said recess substantially always flush with said top face of, said; br stles.

2-. A brush comprising a back, having a top face and a bottom, face, bristles extending outwardly from a portion of said top face, said back having a recess in said top face adjacent said bristle-carrying portion of said top face, the said recess having a bottom wall and two oppositely disposed side walls extending from said bottom wall upwardly to the top face of said back and at least one open end, each of the side walls of the said recess comprising at least' one inwardly extending lateral projection, and a cake of Soap having substantially parallel side faces slidably received in said recess, the width of the said recess being slightly wider than that of said cake of soap tobe slid into the said recess and the open space between the said projections disposed on the said opposite walls being slightly smaller than the width of the said cake, of soap, so that upon sliding said cake of soap into said recess with its top face substantially flush with the top face of said bristles, the said projections bite into the side Walls of the said cake, of soap and retain the latter adjustably by means of sliding said cake ofsoap at the proper level' into said recess substantially always, flush with said top, face of said bristles.

3. The brush, as set. forth in claim 1, in which the said recessis disposed crosswise in saidv top face of the back.

4. The brush, as set forth in claim 2, inwhich the said recess in the back is of dove-tail cross-section and the edges formed'by inclined side walls ofthe said recess with the top face of the, back forming the saidprojections bitinginto the said walls of said cake of soap when the latter-slides-into the said recess.

5. A- brush comprising a back, having atop face and a bottomface, bristles extending outwardly from one portionofsaidtop'face, said back having-arecess in said top face adjacentsaid bristle-carrying portion of'saidtop face, the said recess having a-bottorn wall and two oppositely'disposed' side walls extending from said bottom wall upwardlwto'the-topface of said back andatleastone open endg at least one of the side walls ofthesaid re;- cess comprising at least one inwardly extendinglateral projection spaced apart from the said bottom wall of the recess, the said recess being of substantially rectangular cross section and the width of the said recess being slightly Wider than that of a cake of soap to be slid sideways into the said recess and the open space between the said projection and the oppositely disposed wall being slightly smaller than the Width of the said cake of soap, so that upon sliding said cake of soap into the said recess with its top face substantially flush with the top face of the said bristles the said projection bites into one of the side walls of said cake of soap and retains the latter adjustably by means of sliding said cake of soap at the proper level into said recess substantially always flush with the top face of said bristles.

6, The brush, as set forth in claim 1, in which the said recess is of substantially rectangular cross-section and at least one of the oppositely disposed side walls of the said recess having at least one pin member extending substantially perpendicularly from the side walls of the said recess, said pin member constituting said projection the said pin member pointing towards the opposite wall of said recess and biting into one of the said walls of said cake of soap upon sliding the same sideways into the said recess of the back.

7. The brush, as set forth in claim 1, in which the said back is stepped up adjacent the said bristles, to provide a surface of higher level of the back at the point of the said recess than the top face from which the said bristles extend.

8. The brush as set forth in claim 2, in which the side walls of the said recess have oppositely disposed projections at different levels, so that at first all projections will bite into the side walls of the said cake of soap, while upon use of the soap the latter is taken out of the said recess and inserted again into the latter into a higher po- 6 sition in which the uppermost projections only will bite into the said cake of soap and, thereby, retain the outer face of the said cake of soap substantially at the level of the outer end of the said bristles.

9. A brush comprising a back, having a top face and a bottom face, bristles extending outwardly from a side portion of said top face, said back having a recess in said top face adjacent said bristle-carrying side portion of said top face, the said recess having a bottom wall and two oppositely disposed side walls extending from said bottom wall upwardly to the top face of said back and at least one open end, and a cake of soap having substantially parallel side faces slidably received in said recess, the said side walls of the said recess including projection means permitting the sliding of said cake of soap into the said recess in a plane disposed parallel to the top face of the said back and releasably and adjustably retaining said cake of soap at any predetermined level relative to the top face of the said back, so that upon sliding said cake of soap into the said recess with its top face substantially flush with the top face of said bristles, the said projection means bites into the said side faces of the cake of soap and retains the latter adjustably by means of sliding said cake of soap at the proper level into said recess substantially always flush with said top face of said bristles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,500 Curtis Sept. 27, 1938 2,471,210 Griffin May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 444,378 Germany May 19, 1927 

